A Karmic Cleansing in Pondicherry, India

In this former French colony, you can visit a utopian town and glimpse an elephant, buying pastries and saris along the way

By

John Robshaw

Aug. 9, 2013 3:59 p.m. ET

THERE MAY BE NO better spot for cleansing the soul than Pondicherry, a lovely ashram-rich town in southern India. A former French colony, Pondicherry is home to a diverse population including Dravidians, French Christians, Hindus and Muslims. The windows of Catholic churches are left open, allowing birds to enter and fly about like prayers. One Hindu temple is home to a live elephant that gives blessings. Each denomination has its own flair—and its own market share—and no one seems to mind. That is what I love about this city....